Heart health: Small changes have big impacts

Sometimes it’s genetic. Other times it’s our diet. On occasion, it’s situational, such as the anxiety of sitting in a dentist’s chair.

The good news: High blood pressure (HBP) is preventable — and in its more advanced stage of hypertension, even treatable.

“People don’t often think much of having HBP or untreated hypertension and what the long-term effects are,” says Samantha Gallegos, FNP, CVNP, ARNP, with MultiCare’s Pulse Heart Institute in Spokane. “It can cause problems with kidneys, stroke, heart attack, circulatory issues or heart failure.”

While such complications don’t occur right away, she says, they’re all a risk when HBP is left untreated. That’s why she stresses prevention as the key to heart health.

“It’s always easier to say ‘I’ll start tomorrow’ and put your needs on hold,” Gallegos says. “But we often see where [a patient’s] condition could have been intervened on earlier.”

Ultimately, lifestyle choices are your decision, she says. But it’s important to be educated and realistic in your decision making.

Know the difference between high blood pressure & hypertension  

Knowing the difference between a moment of HBP versus hypertension can be tricky, as the symptoms may not always be clear or even present. Some are obvious, while others seem like nothing out of the ordinary.

HBP alone can be situational, while hypertension is a health diagnosis, such as diabetes or coronary artery disease, Gallegos says. For those with no prior history of HBP or a hypertension diagnosis, symptoms may seem very nonspecific. At times, they may resemble the aches and changes one expects with aging.

“When you’re young, sometimes a headache really is just a headache,” Gallegos says.

If a patient in their 20s or 30s was experiencing HBP — and didn’t have any other medical conditions — she would recommend taking three separate readings in different environments to determine whether it was situational. If it was high across multiple readings, that’s the time to dig deeper and address it appropriately.

“But oftentimes, it’s diagnosed when a patient comes in with a specific problem, like chest pain, palpitations or feeling dizzy or lightheaded,” she says. “A bunch of things you wouldn’t necessarily think is HBP or hypertension.”

A situational elevated blood pressure reading could be due to nerves, too many energy drinks, a current medication or simply the overall stress of the past few years.

For those living with other medical conditions, such as diabetes or high cholesterol, HBP is something to keep an eye on. And genetics plays a role, too.

Some of the more common symptoms of hypertension include headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds. But because not everyone will experience symptoms, it’s important to check your heart numbers and know what they mean.

Blood pressure is checked during clinic visits or hospital intake, which for most patients is often enough. If you’ve noticed elevated numbers or are currently being treated for hypertension, though, more regular monitoring may be recommended by your provider.

“We don’t need to be hyper obsessive,” Gallegos says for patients without a history or symptoms of HBP. “Nowadays, there are blood pressure machines in stores, and while they’re not the most tried and true, the point is if you can check it, do so. And if you notice elevation, it can alert you to start paying attention and schedule a visit with your primary care provider.”

The biggest thing is being aware, she reiterates.

Small changes add up

When a patient receives a hypertension diagnosis, Gallegos says their first reaction is often fear of being on medication the rest of their lives. And while she can’t make guarantees, with some lifestyle changes there’s a good chance for many that they won’t have to be.

“Ninety-eight percent of the time, they will not say they’re the epitome of health,” she says. “How much alcohol are you consuming? Stop smoking, maybe not so much coffee in a day.”

American Heart Month is a great time to reflect on what we’re doing to care for our body, especially our heart.

Hypertension is treatable and controllable, but must be taken seriously, Gallegos says. For many patients, she says, it’s easier to think it’s not “that serious” or deny something might be wrong.

“It’s not different than what we all do with anything in our life,” she says. “That’s where it’s our job as your provider to talk about the things we can do and what might be contributing.”

When you take the time to sit down with your doctor or other health care provider, you may find there are several contributing factors within your control. Change doesn’t have to be all at once, she adds.

“Start with a small step like not adding extra salt to dinner. Try to cook more rather than prepackaged [meals], or go for a quick walk. You don’t have to go to the gym every day,” Gallegos explains. “Small changes can have big impacts.”

Those small habits add up, especially for those genetically predisposed to encountering high blood pressure.